James Martin BBQ Sauce

This homemade BBQ sauce is rich, smoky, and slightly sweet with a hint of spice. It’s made with simple ingredients and is perfect for dipping or coating meats like ribs, chicken, and sausages. Quick to make and packed with bold flavors, it’s a must-try for any BBQ lover!

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• olive oil
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped
• 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
• 55g/2oz dark brown sugar
• 50ml/1¾fl oz dark soy sauce
• 300ml/10fl oz tomato ketchup
• salt and pepper

How To Make BBQ Sauce?

1. Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, chili, and fennel seeds. Cook for a few minutes until soft and fragrant.
2. Melt the sugar: Stir in the brown sugar and let it dissolve, giving the sauce a deep, caramelized flavor.
3. Mix in the sauces: Pour in the soy sauce and tomato ketchup. Stir well to combine.
4. Simmer and finish: Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe Tips:

• Cook the onions slowly: Let the onions cook over medium heat until they are soft and lightly golden. This helps bring out their natural sweetness and makes the sauce taste richer.
• Crush the fennel seeds well: Use a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon to crush the fennel seeds properly. This releases their full flavor and blends them smoothly into the sauce.
• Simmer for the best taste: Don’t rush the cooking process. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to help all the flavors mix and create a deeper, more balanced taste.
• Balance the sweetness and spice: If the sauce tastes too sweet, add a little more soy sauce. If it’s too spicy, mix in extra ketchup to tone it down. Adjusting the balance makes the sauce perfect for your taste.
• Let it rest before using: For the best flavor, let the sauce cool for at least 10 minutes before using. This helps all the ingredients blend, making the sauce even more delicious.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?

• Refrigerate: Let the BBQ sauce cool completely, then store it in a sealed jar or container in the fridge. It stays fresh for 1 week.
• Freeze: Put the cooled sauce in a freezer-safe container, leaving space at the top. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Pour the sauce into a small pan and warm it over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 45 kcal
• Total Fat: 1g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 450mg
• Potassium: 150mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 10g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 8g
• Protein: 1g

James Martin BBQ Sauce

Course: SauceCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

45

kcal

This homemade BBQ sauce is rich, smoky, and slightly sweet with a hint of spice. It’s made with simple ingredients and is perfect for dipping or coating meats like ribs, chicken, and sausages. Quick to make and packed with bold flavors, it’s a must-try for any BBQ lover!

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed

• olive oil

• 1 red chilli, finely chopped

• 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed

• 55g/2oz dark brown sugar

• 50ml/1¾fl oz dark soy sauce

• 300ml/10fl oz tomato ketchup

• salt and pepper

Directions

• Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, chili, and fennel seeds. Cook for a few minutes until soft and fragrant.
• Melt the sugar: Stir in the brown sugar and let it dissolve, giving the sauce a deep, caramelized flavor.
• Mix in the sauces: Pour in the soy sauce and tomato ketchup. Stir well to combine.
• Simmer and finish: Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

• Cook the onions slowly: Let the onions cook over medium heat until they are soft and lightly golden. This helps bring out their natural sweetness and makes the sauce taste richer.
• Crush the fennel seeds well: Use a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon to crush the fennel seeds properly. This releases their full flavor and blends them smoothly into the sauce.
• Simmer for the best taste: Don’t rush the cooking process. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to help all the flavors mix and create a deeper, more balanced taste.
• Balance the sweetness and spice: If the sauce tastes too sweet, add a little more soy sauce. If it’s too spicy, mix in extra ketchup to tone it down. Adjusting the balance makes the sauce perfect for your taste.
• Let it rest before using: For the best flavor, let the sauce cool for at least 10 minutes before using. This helps all the ingredients blend, making the sauce even more delicious.